FILE PHOTO: Western Ct Militia's Anthony Julbes (13) reaches over the goal line to score a touchdown during a New England Football League pre-season game between the New Haven Venom and the Western Connecticut Militia at Rogers Park, in Danbury, Conn, on Saturday, June 13, 2015. less

FILE PHOTO: Western Ct Militia's Anthony Julbes (13) reaches over the goal line to score a touchdown during a New England Football League pre-season game between the New Haven Venom and the Western Connecticut ... more

FILE PHOTO: Western Ct Militia's Matt Tyrell (8) leaps to catch a pass in front of New Haven's Taquarry Fitzgerald (4) during a New England Football League pre-season game between the New Haven Venom and the Western Connecticut Militia at Rogers Park, in Danbury, Conn, on Saturday, June 13, 2015. less

FILE PHOTO: Western Ct Militia's Matt Tyrell (8) leaps to catch a pass in front of New Haven's Taquarry Fitzgerald (4) during a New England Football League pre-season game between the New Haven Venom and the ... more

FILE PHOTO: Western Connecticut Militia runner Ryan Mack breaks a tackle attempt by Tyree Craig of the New Jersey Spartans in a game at Immaculate High School. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012

FILE PHOTO: Western Connecticut Militia runner Ryan Mack breaks a tackle attempt by Tyree Craig of the New Jersey Spartans in a game at Immaculate High School. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012

Photo: Scott Mullin / Scott Mullin

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FILE PHOTO: Militia coach Lonnie Young.

FILE PHOTO: Militia coach Lonnie Young.

Photo: Barry Horn / Barry Horn

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Militia upsets rival Panthers, advances to NEFL title game

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DANBURY — It would have been really easy to simply write off the Western Connecticut Militia after star quarterback Kevin Oberg went down with a season-ending knee injury last week.

In all likelihood, there were plenty of folks around the New England Football League who figured the Militia’s hopes of capturing their first league title were all but dashed when Oberg was injured just before halftime in last week’s playoff win over the Pioneer Valley Knights, especially since the two-time defending league-champion Connecticut Panthers were waiting in the NEFL Triple-A semifinals.

However, with the fate of their season hanging in the balance, the Militia caught lightning in a bottle Saturday night in the form of unheralded, unproven, unknown backup Nick Kimball.

Kimball, just two years removed from a standout career as a wide receiver and defensive back at New Milford High School, sent shock waves around the NEFL Saturday in his first career start by throwing three touchdown passes and running for another score in the Militia’s 28-0 victory over the rival Panthers at Danbury High School. The Militia will face the Boston Bandits in the NEFL Triple-A championship game next weekend at a time and place to be announced. Unofficial reports have the game set for Saturday night at Western Connecticut State University’s Westside Athletic Complex.

“It’s just crazy,” Kimball said. “I didn’t think I was going to start one game, let alone the divisional championship, and now the NEFL championship.”

It was certainly a tremendous blow for the Militia to lose Oberg, another New Milford High product who has taken pretty much every meaningful snap in the team’s five-year history and has led the team to the playoffs in each of those five seasons. Few in the NEFL — if any — can match his mobility, his passing proficiency, his leadership or his grit.

“We definitely felt the air go out of our sails, so to speak, however, we always knew we had a mission going forward,” Militia coach Lonnie Young said. “We always say, the next man up. And believe me, the next man definitely stepped up.”

Kimball took charge from the outset, hitting Ryan Mack with a 75-yard scoring strike on the first play from scrimmage.

“We had that play set since Tuesday,” Kimball said.

Kimball later threw touchdown passes of 38 yards to Matt Tyrell and of 25 yards to Anthony Julbes. Kimball also ran one in from six yards out. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 285 yards.

“We knew Nick Kimball had the skill set, the tools,” Young said. However, the lack of experience was key. The team rallied around him, and we had the confidence in him to get the job done.

The Militia defense, meanwhile, made life much easier for Kimball and the offense by pitching a shutout against an explosive Panther offense.

“I’ve always said, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, and they’ve been the best the past several years,” Young said. “We always had the gut feeling that we were as good, if not better, but we had to prove ourselves. We definitely did that tonight — in impressive fashion. We wanted to dominate all facets of the game, and for the most part, that’s what we did.”